Custom Sabbat Ritae
Some chronicles allow for their players to develop customized powers for their characters. The following is a compilation of player created custom content in OWBN. At this time, custom content that is created and/or used by vampire PC's is required to be listed.
The chosen spend much of their free time training for their upcoming missions or keeping their skills sharp. However, in order for a Cainite to go all out, as it we're, requires a great expense of resources. As a result, few members of the Chosen choose to use their full range of skills when in training; as they may be called to act at any moment. To counter this glad, the Ritae of the Training Mission was developed for that exact purpose. Adapted from the Ignoblis Ritae Test of Might a priest can now channel their faith and blessings to the Dark Father in helping his fellow brothers and sisters in being restored after they complete their training. The priest must set forth first what the particular training exercise is before enacting this Ritae and also usually follows with several other Ritae practices by the Black Hand. There after the Chosen undergoing the Training need to no longer feae wasting precious resources in training; when they might need them at any moment.
System: Once the Training Mission ritus is complete all used Attribute Traits, Ability Traits, and Willpower Traits (both Permanent and Temporary) return to all the characters that participated in the Ritae as if they had never used them in the first place. This Ritae may only be used for the actual training missions, not actual operations or missions for the Black Hand, and may not be used in any other instance.
System: Based on the ancient roman ritual of Triumph this ritae is performed after a successful military campaign. The ranking leader of the Sabbat who organized the Crusade or other major campaign is honored by a priest who knows this ritual. The sect leader is paraded through the streets of their home city in an elaborate celebration made to look like a parade in the fashion of roman style. He is paraded through the streets by chariot as the Sabbat cheers him on. Generally the mortals of the area believe its some grand parade put on by local Roman re in actors. At the conclusion of the celebration, upon which ends at the site of a great gathering of the Sabbat, the leader is awarded the status trait Triumphant and may hence forth add Vir Triumphalis to any form of address. This title even lasts after a Cainite has reached Final Death.
Requirements for a Triumph
1. Must have killed at least 20 of the enemy and win, or completely destroyed the enemy in a significant battle or crusade.
2. Must be of at least Bishop rank and have lead the campaign.
3. Bring back the packs under your command home safe. I.E. can’t have a decimated force.
4. A member of the clergy of equal or higher rank must approve of the ceremony.
The priest holds a venomous Serpent while speaking briefly of unity among the brothers and sisters of the Sword, he allows the viper to strike him and as it does he speaks on the Beast and how it can cause us to lash out at even those who are our allies, but we must remain strong in our Unity despite this. They are told to meditate on how they feel at the sight of a Brother wounded by the vipers fangs and to remember that should they fully lose control it may be their fangs wounding a Brother next.
The viper is then killed and its blood and venom are mixed in a copper vessel as narcotic herbs are mixed into the vessel. Those who participate in the Ritae drink of the concoction and enter a brief state of clarity and unity with their beast that brings them to an understanding about the unity of their Brothers and Sisters who are likewise experiencing this tranquility. When the ritual concludes each who partook of the mixture find a pair of fang marks on their arm or wrist where the viper bit the priest as a reminder of the Ritae. The mark fades when the Ritae does at the end of the night.
Everyone who participates in this Ritae gains a Bonus Self Control/Instinct trait for the remainder of the night. This can exceed the normal limit of five.
o Unity in Faith (Created by Amir Qadr), Developed to ensure unity amongst allied packs that may not be able to Vaulderie frequently, and to announce the solidarity of the gathered Cainites, this Ritus is simple and quick, but also raucous and loud. The Priest leads all participants in a brief chant. As this was developed for the Faith and Fire alliance the standard form is:
The Priest(s) call(s) out "Gehenna has arrived"
The pack responds "Faith is our guide!"
The Priest(s) call(s) out "The Ancients arise!"
The pack responds "By our fire they shall die!
"Three times in unison "Faith. Fire. Fire. Faith. All enemies crumble in our wake"
Particularly fervent performances may see the assembled Cainites repeat the final line several more times if they so desire. For the remainder of the night, all participants treat their Viniculum ratings to each other participant as 3 steps higher, up to a maximum of 10. Participants with no existing viniculum to each other are treated as having a 3 point viniculum--though typically this rite will precede or follow a Vaulderie.
Vitae Seal is a rite of blessing. Purifying a soldier of Caine's weapon before war. The Priest mixes his vitae with wax, dyes can also be added to change the color of the seal. The Priest preys over this holy wax, thanking Caine for the power of his blood. Once created this Holy Wax can be used immediately or stored until the end of the night. The power of sunrise removes the power of the Holy Wax. To bless a weapon melt the Holy Wax and drip it on the weapon. Using a consecrated item create a seal. Some have a seal press or signet ring they use, other carve new symbols or text each time. During this time the Priest asks Caine to bless this weapon. If he does the warrior will feel is blessing during the upcoming battle. The power of the seal lasts until the battle is over or until sunrise.
Game Mechanic: To make the Holy Wax add a trait of Vitae for each 10 dose you are making. Each dose can bless one weapon. The social challenge is done when creating the Holy Wax the trait difficulty is the number of dose being created. If the Priest fails at this challenge and the two simples that follow the wax mixture bursts and burns him, causing one level of Agg damage. Once the Holy Wax is created the Priest can bless one weapon per dose created. A Cainite can only have one blessed weapon per battle. If they have more than one with a seal only one of them carries the blessing. Blessing: Any time during the battle if the blessed weapon is being used the Cainite can call upon the blessing. The blessing gives you Purity trait that can be spent like a Willpower. Once the blessing is used, the battle ends, or at sunrise all Holy Wax and Vitae Seals turn to ash.
The priest says a prayer and recites the story of Caine laying curses upon the Antediluvians for slaughtering his first childer, Enoch. And Zillah becoming a weeping stone. Then the priest and its participants start a vauldrie, placeing one trait of blood in the chalice along with a stone for each participant. At the end of the Vauldrie, each participant swallows a stone. (Normal Vauldrie applies, can be used with the Varient: Sacraments of Caine. )
System: After both ritual tests (Weight of the Stone, and Vauldrie. )
Participants with the stone in their belly, are unaffected by the very first successful use of Stone of the True Form. This last for the night. And once used, may not be preformed again in the same night to reapply its protection.
Creator: Nickoli Bloodtalen
The Sabbat have never been famed for their brainpower, so it was only a matter of time before a Priest would develop a ritual to increase a Packs thinking power. The Priest who developed it had a slightly sick sense of humour and he could only make the brainpower work by eating brains. Even then it only works for specific occult based information. More work is needed to increase actual brainpower, but the Sabbat may well have more important things to do...
"My mind is open to be expanded The brains of all others will make me stronger The power of brains shall create a web of information Like a spider drinking a corpse we shall sup from the brains of humanity With this brain we will feast; mmm brains."
Effect: This Ritual grants 2 bonus points to Occult or Sabbat Lore ability scores for the scene.
Description: grants a +1 to either investigation or enigmas (must be chosen at
time of casting)
System: Castor and participants engage in a 20 minute meditation focusing on
opening and expanding their mind. Once the time of meditation ends
participants gain a +1 to either their investigation or enigmas ability for the
night (must be chosen at time of casting).
Note: Only one ability can receive the bonus and can only be cast once per
night
Casting time: 20 minutes